Ribble wrecks late 1862 - early 1863

Barque Brazil
Barque Rubin
Lytham Lighthouse collapse

Wooden barque Brazil, built Richibucto, 1857
467 tons, 184 x 28 x 19 ft.
Owned J M Wilson, Liverpool
Voyage Bangor, Maine, with deals to Fleetwood
26 December 1862, driven ashore on Salthouse [Salters] Bank, Lytham
Captain Shore and all 13 aboard saved by Lytham life-boat.
Wreck was offered for sale on 19 January 1863.

From Gore's Liverpool General Advertiser - Thursday 15 October 1857
  For SALE, The very handsome Barque BRAZIL; Classed A1 for four years. Length 184 feet, breadth 28 feet, depth 19 feet; 489 tons o.m. tons 467 tons present mode. This vessel was intended for the Brazilian trade, and built under the special inspection by Lloyd's surveyors; coppered with heavy metal, copper fastened, and fitted with iron knees of the very best make; chief part of the frame is of heckmatac[sic, hackmatack, Larix Laricina], for which the port of Richibucto[New Brunswick], where she was built, is justly celebrated; she carries a large cargo on a very light draft of water, and sails very fast; she was launched this year, and her fittings are of the best Liverpool make. Now ready to take cargo for any voyage, and can be seen in the Brunswick Dock. Apply to HOLDERNESS and CHILTON. Fenwick-street.

From Dublin Daily Express - Monday 29 December 1862
  Total Wreck of a Liverpool Ship. During a gale of wind and a heavy surf, the barque Brazil, of Liverpool, bound from Bangor, Maine, United States, with deals, being disabled off the Lancashire coast by loss of sails, was observed to be driving to leeward of her course, and to strike heavily on the Salthouse Sand Bank at six o'clock on Friday morning[26 December 1862]. At daylight, information of the wreck was brought to Lytham, and the life-boat of the National Life-boat Institution stationed there was thereupon launched without delay to her assistance. On nearing the vessel they perceived the crew attempting to leave in their own boat, as they did not observe the approach of the life-boat. Owing to the heavy surf that was running, their boat was in sinking condition when the crew, numbering 13 men, were taken from her by the life-boat. The ship's boat went down immediately afterwards, the poor fellows having the narrowest escape of their lives. The vessel has since become a total wreck.
  This valuable lifeboat has, during the past two or three mouths, saved 11 men from the American ship Annie E. Hooper, of Baltimore; saved the schooner Ceres, of Arbroath, and her crew of five men; brought the derelict sloop Mart, of Stranraer, into port, and rescued 13 men from the barque Brazil, of Liverpool; total, 32 shipwrecked persons saved from a watery grave by the Lytham lifeboat.

From Preston Herald Saturday 17 January 1863
  SALE OF THE WRECK OF THE BARQUE BRAZIL. Mr Worthington has received instructions to Sell by Auction, on Monday next, January 19th, 1863, the sale to commence at twelve o'clock at noon precisely, at the Cross Slack, north of the lighthouse, thence along the coast to the Wreck Depot, Lytham. [Cross Slack was near 53°45.93N, 3°2.46W]
  ALL the WRECK and materials, comprising portions of the hull, together with anchors, chains, sails (in excellent condition), masts, spars, standing and running rigging, boats, metal bolts, coppers, cooking apparatus, large water tank, cabin furniture, and stores of the barque Brazil, wrecked on the Salthouse Bank, the 28th December last.
 NB The lots now lying opposite the Victoria Hotel, South Beach, Blackpool, and at South Shore, will be sold at the Cross Slack. Catalogues of the respective lots will be prepared prior to the day of sale.
  Further particulars may had on applying to Messrs. M. J. Wilson, merchant, Liverpool; Sumner and Co., timber merchants, Fleetwood; or Thomas Butcher, Receiver Droits of Admiralty, Lytham.






Wooden barque Rubin, built St Martin, New Brunswick 1850
660 tons, 127 x 27 x 19.5 ft.
Owned J M Wilson, Liverpool
Voyage Bay of Fundy to Glasson Dock with timber.
21 January 1863, aground on Salthouse(Salters) Bank, Lytham
Captain John Kerr and all crew saved by lifeboat (12) and own boat(2).
Wreck was driven closer on shore and was offered for sale on 20 February 1863
Lytham lighthouse was undermined by the same storm and collapsed

From Blackburn Standard - Wednesday 28 January 1863
  Lytham, Wednesday Night, 21. Jan. We have been visited with fearful gales during the last three days but fortunately there is only one instance of shipwreck to record. A vessel was observed aground on the Salthouse Bank, while the wind was blowing very hard and the sea running very high. The life-boat of the National Lifeboat Institution was immediately got out, mounted on her transporting carriage, and quickly conveyed to windward, a distance of 4 or 5 miles over the sand, which was very soft. On arriving near the scene of the wreck the lifeboat with her crew on board was at once launched and proceeded off to the vessel, which was found to be the barque "Rubin" of Liverpool, with a cargo of timber on board. The jibboom of the ship was carried away and her rudder was gone. She had no boats, the yard tackle hanging in the water. With some difficulty, owing to the heavy seas, the lifeboat succeeded in rescuing the crew of 12 men, and brought them ashore amid the cheering of a large concourse of spectators. It is a singular coincidence that this vessel belongs to the same owners, and was chartered with the same cargo as the barque "Brazil," which was wrecked on this Sandbank on the 26th ult., and whose crew of thirteen men were rescued under similar perilous circumstances by this valuable lifeboat.

From Preston Herald - Saturday 24 January 1863

DAMAGE £800. WRECK OF THE BARQUE REUBEN.
  The greatest damage caused by the gale in this part of the country has occurred at Lytham, where, in addition to the wreck of a barque laden with deal, the lighthouse, which has been for 16 years the guide of the mariner on a dangerous coast, and the means of saving many vessels from being wrecked, has been totally destroyed. The gale commenced on Monday night, from the south-west, and was accompanied heavy rain and snow. On Tuesday morning, the wind chopped round to the north-west, and continued to blow from that direction all day. Tuesday night it blew with the greatest fury, and the experienced declare that never such a gale was felt at Lytham for a great number of years. As this gale has been said to have equalled that of 1852, we may state that the height of the tide in that year was 16ft. 10in., and the water was forced onward by a south-west wind; whilst the height of the tide on Tuesday was 19ft. 6in., and the water was forced in by a north-west wind. The gale in 1852 was said to have been stronger than any which had occurred for 50 years, so if it be true that this has surpassed that one, it will have been the greatest experienced within the last 61 years. The wind moderated a little on Wednesday, though still blowing from the north-west; and on Wednesday night veered round to the south-west, and blew from that quarter all day on Thursday. Yesterday the wind was again strong, from the north-west. On Tuesday, as stated in the Herald Supplement of Wednesday, the water was forced over the beach to the west of the town, but little damage was sustained. Large patches of the sea-fence on the west beach, nearly opposite Greenfield-house, have been washed away, and about 200 yards of earth, which was being laid out for sea-fencing and nearly completed, was likewise carried away.
  Wednesday morning [21 January 1863] at daybreak, a barque, rockets from which had been previously observed, was seen near Salthouse bank in a perilous situation, and it was feared she had struck. Information was at once conveyed to Mr. Butcher, the receiver of droits at Lytham, who immediately communicated the intelligence to the keepers of the lifeboat stationed at Lytham by direction of the National Lifeboat Institution. The boat was quickly got out, mounted on her transporting carriage, and quickly conveyed to the windward, a distance of four or five miles over the sand, which was very soft. On arriving near to the scene of the wreck, the lifeboat with her crew on board was at once launched and proceeded off to the vessel, which was found to be the barque Reuben[sic, Rubin] of Liverpool, with a cargo of timber on board. The jibboom of the ship was carried away and her rudder was gone. She had no boats, the yard tackle hanging in the water. With some difficulty, owing to the heavy seas, the lifeboat succeeded in rescuing the crew of twelve men, and brought them ashore amid the cheering of a large concourse of spectators. It is a singular coincidence that this vessel belongs to the same owners, and was chartered with similar cargo, as the barque Brazil, which was wrecked this sandbank on the 26th ult., and whose crew of thirteen men were rescued under similar perilous circumstances by this valuable lifeboat, which has within the last three months saved not fewer than 40 persons, as well two vessels and their cargoes, from destruction.
  The captain of the vessel Reuben was Mr. John Kerr; and it was found that her registered tonnage was 573 tons. She is owned by Mr. J. M. Wilson, of Liverpool, but was built at St Martin's, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia. The cargo, which consisted of deals, was shipped to Messrs. Hickman and Co., of Amhurst, and consigned to order; but on her arrival at Queenstown, both cargo and vessel were consigned to Mr. Blades, timber merchant, of Lancaster. It appears that she left Woodpoint in the Bay of Fundy on the 18th of December, at eight o'clock in the morning, the weather at the time being moderate, and the wind blowing a fresh breeze from the north-east. At the time of sailing, the vessel was in good condition, and her destination was Glasson Dock; but previous to going there she had to stay at Queenstown for orders. Nothing particular occurred on the voyage until Tuesday last, at 10 p.m. The tide at the time was flowing, and the weather stormy, and the wind from the north-west blowing a severe gale. The ship had previously got so far as Morecambe-bay, but not falling in with a pilot, she was obliged to stand out to sea, beating off and on.
  The fury of the storm forced her to leeward, and all the efforts of the master and men to keep her off shore were unavailing; and about one o'clock on Wednesday morning, she ran aground on the Salthouse-bank, at the estuary of the Ribble, the sea making a complete breach over her. Expecting the vessel to break up, the crew made efforts to save themselves by the use of their own life-boat, which was lowered with the intention of the whole crew leaving in the vessel, but when two men had entered it, the sea struck the boat with such violence as to break out that portion to which a rope had been fastened, and it was sent adrift with the two men in her. They endeavoured again reach the ill-fated vessel, but the captain, perceiving that they could not possibly return, called out to them to make towards the shore, which they accordingly did and after battling with the sea for some time, they reached land a short distance from the lighthouse, being at that time in a state of great exhaustion. Several fishermen, who had been on the look-out here, rushed into the raging surf, and notwithstanding that they had to wade a depth of five feet, they succeeded in reaching the two unfortunate individuals, and brought them to shore. They were in helpless state, not being able to stand; and they were conveyed into the village, where they were properly treated, and are now almost convalescent. Apartments were found for them by Mr. Ross, secretary of the Shipwrecked Society.
  The situation of the rest of the crew was perilous until the arrival of the Lytham lifeboat, when they were landed on shore, as above stated. The Southport lifeboat shortly afterwards arrived, but their services were not required, though their intentions were none the worse.
  The vessel since Wednesday has been forced upon the Main, near the Double Stanner Point [close to the Lighthouse and NW of it], and is now high and dry. She is sadly damaged, being much broken up, and it is not likely that she will be ever useful again; in fact, she will become total wreck. Mr. Butcher, Lytham, and the captain of the vessel are doing their utmost to preserve the cargo and we are assured that they are in expectation to recover nearly the whole of it. We have been unable to ascertain whether or not the ship is insured. Mr. Kerr, the captain, was entertained in the house of Mr. Butcher, and the whole of the crew are yet at Lytham; but the latter are expected to leave for Liverpool in day or two.
This newspaper report continues here, below

Image from Illustrated London News (14 February 1863) of the collapsed Lytham Lighthouse with a wreck beyond - presumably the barque Rubin.

From Liverpool Mercury - Wednesday 18 February 1863
  SALE. On Friday next, the 20th instant, at Lytham, The WRECK of the Barque RUBIN, 606 tons o. m. and 573 tons n. m.; built at St. Martin's, NB., in 1850. Length, 130 8-10 feet; breadth, 30 5-10 feet; depth, 19 5-10 feet. Was classed AE1 4 years from 1860, when she was sheathed with yellow metal.
  Immediately after the above, all the STORES saved from the wreck, consisting of anchors, chains, sails, etc.. will be sold in lots. For further particulars apply to CUNARD, WILSON, & Co., Brokers, Exchange.



Lytham Lighthouse collapse [22 January 1863; image of collapse above]
Lytham Lighthouse (built 1848) before its collapse in 1863 (from Illustrated London News).

From Preston Herald - Saturday 24 January 1863
On Tuesday noon a portion of the north corner of the foundation of lighthouse gave way, in consequence of the force of the waves, and during the afternoon the foundation in part was laid bare. This being observed, a messenger was dispatched to Messrs. Garlick and Park, engineers to the Ribble Navigation Company, but Mr. Garlick, having gone to Blackpool, was unable visit the spot. On Tuesday night, the edifice leaned considerably northward, and although the lights were burning as usual, it was not deemed safe for any person to remain in it. A good deal of the furniture was removed that night, and on Wednesday morning, when a portion of the south corner was carried away, the lenses, reflector, and everything valuable were removed. More of the southern portion of the foundation was washed away during Wednesday night, and at a quarter-past twelve clock on Thursday (noon) [22 January 1863] the whole erection fell with tremendous crash in a northeasterly direction, like (as one man observed) the falling of tree, keeping in one column until it reached the water. With such force did it fall, that an immense volume of white spray was forced to a height between 40 and 50 feet the air. Mr. Garlick arrived at Lytham on Thursday, and, as he was proceeding beachwards to the lighthouse, saw it fall.
  Yesterday, we visited Mr. Peter Walmsley, the keeper of the lighthouse, who made the following statement:- Monday night and Tuesday morning was the last time we stayed over night in the lighthouse. We found that its vibration was different from what it had ever been before. My son was with me all night. During the different tides - about every ninth or tenth wave - it made the place oscillate very much, the foundations, no doubt, having become disturbed. We did not think much about it, as we had got it piled at the front, and therefore were not much afraid. If we had not had the front repaired, we should not have gone into it. The backside was left undone, but the front was piled for about fifteen feet from the base a few months ago - I think in September. It was originally intended to pile it all round, and timber had been procured for the purpose. Workmen came down Monday, but instead of piling the other portion, they were engaged in removing the furniture, etc., from the lighthouse. On Tuesday morning, when we put the lights out, we noticed that the pitching, or frame-work in front, had given way. That would account for the increased oscillation. On Tuesday, when there was the highest tide, we did not expect that there would be anything wrong. I went to Lytham, and whilst there my son came to me and informed me that the lighthouse had given way, and that it was quite leaning down. I was thunderstruck, and I directed my son to go by train to Preston to give information to Messrs. Park and Garlick, engineers to the Ribble Navigation Company, of what had happened. When I returned to the lighthouse, I found that part of the north corner of the lower part of the place was washed out, and the foundation was laid bare right down to the bottom below the concrete. There was a hole with water in three feet deep below the foundation. My son, when at Preston, did not see Mr. Garlick, he having gone Blackpool; but he saw Mr. Robinson, one of the directors of the company, who told him keep the lights going. The place leaned over very much to the north, and rocked to and fro just as if were on the top of a tree - it vibrated so. The wind was blowing a regular hurricane at that time. I met many persons coming from Lytham, and I said to some of them "This lighthouse will fall." Mr. John Edmondson, secretary the Lifeboat Association, and Mr. Allsup, ironfounder, Preston, told me that it would be down that night, as it was plain enough to see. We set to work to get everything out of it, and worked until ten o'clock on Tuesday night. We got everything out with the exception of those things that belonged the lights. We worked until the sea came round us, and then had to drop it. We did not expect to see the lighthouse standing in the morning. The lights were kept going up to Wednesday morning. A barque came in the course of the night, and she is now beached on Salthouse-bank, about half a mile from the lighthouse, at the same place where the Brazil was lost. During that night the lights never burned more brightly. On Wednesday morning, about eight clock, the wind then blowing stiffly, we extinguished the lights for the last time. Wednesday morning's tide had made a rapid change in the foundation, and had taken away part of the south corner. We began to take the glasses out on Wednesday morning, and we also brought away everything that was valuable. We got out the lenses, reflector, furniture, and different kinds of apparatus, and the steps from top to bottom; we also took the doors off. The tide on Wednesday noon made a further breach into the south corner, and it gave way, leaving a hole in the foundation like a man-hole, by which were enabled to get the oil out of the cisterns which was worth £12 to £14. There has been less damage done than was anticipated. Wednesday night's tide worked further under the south part of the foundation, and the building gave way. It was still standing on Thursday morning, but it fell at a quarter past twelve o'clock that day. It made our house shake when it fell. We have since found one of the cisterns which we took the oil from, on the double Stanner Beach; it is knocked all shapes.
  The building was erected in the year 1847, and cost, including the materials for £1,470. The base of the erection was 33 feet above low water mark, and the highest lantern 72 feet from the base, so that an altitude of 105 feet above low water mark was obtained for the principal light. It was six storeys high, exclusive of a sort of basement storey, which was a secure and cool store for the oil used for the lanterns; and was 14 feet 6 inches just above the base. The lights used were French lights, and were both stationary. One - a red one - was about 30 feet from the base, and could be seen at distance of nine miles; and the other - a white one - was at the top of the building; it showed a light landward as well as seaward, and could be observed at a distance of 15 miles. We may state that when the building was erected, it was never expected that the sea would come so far inland as it does at present; but within the last few years, it has been noticable that the water has encroached greatly upon the shores, and a quantity of piling had been placed around the lighthouse, but this, it appears, has proved insufficient. Two years ago the question of taking it down was mooted, but, unfortunately, nothing was done in the matter. Considerable expense had been laid out latterly on the lighthouse, but that place has now no existence, the only things left to indicate where it stood being two white posts. The stones, however, may yet be recoverable. The Board of Trade have been communicated with on the subject, and until their reply, no step can be taken to supply a light in the place of the one which has been forced away. It is supposed that a similar lighthouse will erected at the Star Hills, about 250 yards or more backwards to the north-west, and if this should be the case, we think a sloping base would cause it to stand a greater force than otherwise. The entire pecuniary damage done by the destruction of this lighthouse is estimated to be £800 to £1,000.
  We have at various times recorded a large number of shipwrecks that have occurred on the Salthouse and Horse Banks, but upon inquiry find that this is more attributable to the want of the pilot system and some good tug boats than to the extreme dangerous nature of the coast. We believe the Ribble Navigation Company have the power to introduce the pilot system, and we hope they will avail themselves of it. There has been a great improvement in the tidal waters on this part of the coast, and even up to Preston, at a good spring tide, 16 feet of water may be drawn. It is said that there is more water at Lytham than there is Liverpool, and true it is that there is never less than 20 feet excepting when there is easterly wind.

For information: Lighthouse was situated at 53°44.09N, 2°58.70W, SSW of Lytham Church.